Apparatus for facilitating the cutting of recesses in walls



E. F. SEARLE. APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING THE CUTTING 0F RECESSES INWALLS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, I920.

Patented 00a 4, 1921.

, olal w n i ay t em UNITED I nrnnami Fne'Nx or IEAWREN MASSACHUSETTS.

.- ppmmus' efiam mmemuseums or BECESSES 1N WAL S.

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM 'FRANK SEARLE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Lawrence, .in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in ApparatusforFacilitating theCutt ng of Recesses in Walls, of which the following,is aspecification.

My invention relates to devices for the purposeof facilitating theaccurate cutting of recessesn walls, especi lly those formed of lathsandplaster,and in locating in such recesses boxesofa typesuch ias thoseused for housingelectric switches. Where such boxes are to beplaced-*in. finished walls,

whether such wallsare papered-or painted,

on. account of the brittle naturezof the plaster, there is greatdanger'that it will be broken to'a point beyond the area covered by thefinishing plate such as is generally used.

-When a break of'this kind occurs, it is im possibleto patch itwithoutleaving an unsightly mark.

' My invention 1s a device which is useful in the process of cuttingsuch 'of locating such boxes therein,

recesses and and includes a special form of templet for so doing.

My device and process save the necessity of marking on the-wall theplace to be out, clamps the plaster between a plate and the laths thuspreventing vibration and crumbling, and serves to protect the wall fromsnakes and other tools used by wire workers in fishing'and in otherprocesses. v V

In the drawings, Figure 1' is an elevation showing a wall set of mypreferred form with the parts assembled. v

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing a section of wall with mytemplet inposition forguiding the cutter tool before the cutting takes place, withpart of the plaster broken away to show the position of thelaths.

Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig.2 showing the wall after therecess hasbeen out.

Fig. i is an elevation showing a wall with a recess cut with theassistance of my templet, with a box in position held in place by oneswitch in position, all covered by the usual' finishing plate.

"'Spe eific atien of L etters'Patent flat thin ears H throug Fi'g. "6 isan elevation of a templet without lath screw holes as arranged for.cutting a recess to receive three boxes. Y

a i ratentedoeaa. 1921. I Application, fllerl October-23, 1929. Serialno. 419,111. i

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail showing the manner in which I may hold theparts'of my ing projections 32 at opposite corners, andtwo screwpassages 31, 31. I B represents a flat faced tially rectangular opening20 but cut templet, shown as being rectangularln form, with asubstaneach of which are away at 21, 21, of a size to permit the outeredges 30 and projections 32, 32, of box G1; to I pass through. i 7

Lin templet B arealso screw holes 22 the same relativepositionto opening20 as v v to" the face or the screw'passages3l are edge 30 ofbox andmedial holes 27 27. It-will be seen that when the set is assembled, thetemplet B and box-G are held to- I gether by means of screws F which, asshown 1n Fig.

ers Wmay be used to hold screws 28 in posiso that a finishing plate,such as shown at 7 may be kept in position by rubber v washers such asW. Similar rubber wash M, can'be passed over them without being causedto tip. As shown, box G'also has projections K in which are-threadedholes 33.

For the purpose of'cutting a wall recess such as C, Fig. 3, and ofworking therein,

I first place templet B against a wall such as A in such position thatthe screw holes:

22 will bein a location where two of the screw passages, such as 31,willeventually be located. I fasten it. firmly in position by screwingthe screws F, F, through the holes 22, 22. I v I -With my preferredform, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I also assscrews 28, 28, through lathscrew holes 2 27 in templet B through i the plaster R and one of thelaths S of the wall A. The templet should be so located that these screwholes 27 will come near the middle of a lath and not opposite thehorizontal space between laths. Thescrews 28,

28, clamp plaster R between the center of the lath S and the templet B,thereby holding the-section of that lath between the side walls 20 ofthe templet firmly in position while the cutting is taking place. Thisis very desirable for the reason that if the rece ss is to be cutthrougha lath close to the joist, the single nail holding the end ofthe,

lath is .not suflicient to keep it from break ing away during thecutting.

. the outlines; 20, f21-of the opening' 'of the. temple't, therebyforming a recess C.- The plaster R may be broken away first or IMoreover, these screws'28, of the-remaining end of the lath when oneside hasbe'encut. Y

When all the screws 28, 28, F, F, are in" V. position,-by meanspreferably of a key-hole saw or hack-saw blade which is set very little,if any, 1 cut through wall A around may out directly through plaster andltths, leaving" the ,templet in position to protect the edges of recessC. vI can work to draw in a tube, such as D,'o'r wires 10,11, or both,with no danger of breaking down the edges of the recess. v A I When allis in position, I remove the temi plet B by withdrawing the screws F, F,and 28, 28, and place a box, such as G, in posi-' tion as shown ;-i nFig. 4, by. passing the screws ,F preferably through two or more ofthe'screw passages 31 into the screw holes i inthe wallmade by the samescrews infais tening the templet Bin position. A switch L of acommongtypqhaving push-buttons box G, and may be held inposition bymeans 50 and 5:1,is then generally placed in the 28, I prevent thevibration 7 Sa es. H V

fA templet for an electricalb'ox having ears with-"scr'ew ipa'ssiigestherethmugh, vwhich has an opening through which saidf whichregisterwith sai'd screwpa'ssa"es,and

lath screw holes ediallylocat'ed- 'fetween of screws passed throughholes, 54' into screw holes g H The finishing plate Mis now slipped overthe box and switch,v and is held inplaceby means of'screws'62,""62,wliioh pass into 7' th ed screw holes 52, 5 2, in switchL in well-known manner. v v v In-Fig. .6, Iflshow a templet vBend anopening 70 71, and screw holes 72 arranged in position toboincide withthe respective f screw passages in the ears of three boxes:

This templet is sho'wn'withoutlath screw which has' an opening through;which said box except the "ears can pass, and, screw holes whichregister withjsaid s c rew' pasbox except the ears can pass, screw holesthetop andbottom; 1

signature. I

' I. A temp'let' for an ele'ctrical box having ears with screw passages;*therethrough;

Iii testimony whereof I have afiix'edjmy

